CLIFTON Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Clifton, Tennessee

CLIFTON Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Clifton, Wayne County, Tennessee. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,046 residents and operates as a secondary treatment facility, which is standard for small communities in the United States under the Clean Water Act. The plant's designed capacity is 529.96 units, with an average daily discharge volume of 435.32 units, indicating it operates below its design capacity. As a secondary treatment plant, it uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting the EPA's minimum treatment requirements for municipal wastewater. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Tennessee River system, part of the larger Mississippi River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality in the Tennessee Valley, supporting aquatic life and recreational uses in the region.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Tennessee River, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The Tennessee River watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as bass and catfish, and provides habitat for migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and organic pollution, contributing to the ecological health of this important river system.